bolt

• (UK) IPA^(key): /bɒlt/, /bəʊlt/, /bɔʊlt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /boʊlt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊlt, -ɒlt

From Middle English bolt, from Old English bolt, from Proto-Germanic *bultaz, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeld- (“to knock, strike”). Compare Lithuanian beldu (“I knock”), baldas (“pole for striking”).[1] Akin to Dutch and West Frisian bout, German Bolz or Bolzen, Danish bolt, Swedish bult, Icelandic bolti.

bolt (plural bolts)

1. A (usually) metal fastener consisting of a cylindrical body that is threaded, with a larger head on one end. It can be inserted into an unthreaded hole up to the head, with a nut then threaded on the other end; a heavy machine screw.
2. A sliding pin or bar in a lock or latch mechanism.
   • 1908: Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

     There was the noise of a bolt shot back, and the door opened a few inches, enough to show a long snout and a pair of sleepy blinking eyes.

3. A bar of wood or metal dropped in horizontal hooks on a door and adjoining wall or between the two sides of a double door, to prevent the door(s) from being forced open.
4. A sliding mechanism to chamber and unchamber a cartridge in a firearm.
5. A small personal-armour-piercing missile for short-range use, or (in common usage though deprecated by experts) a short arrow, intended to be shot from a crossbow or a catapult.
6. A lightning spark, i.e., a lightning bolt.
7. A sudden event, action or emotion.

   The problem's solution struck him like a bolt from the blue.

   • 1994, Stephen Fry, The Hippopotamus Chapter 2

     With a bolt of fright he remembered that there was no bathroom in the Hobhouse Room. He leapt along the corridor in a panic, stopping by the long-case clock at the end where he flattened himself against the wall.

8. A large roll of fabric or similar material, as a bolt of cloth.
   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 20

     Not only were the old sails being mended, but new sails were coming on board, and bolts of canvas, and coils of rigging; in short, everything betokened that the ship’s preparations were hurrying to a close.

9. (nautical) The standard linear measurement of canvas for use at sea: 39 yards.
10. A sudden spring or start; a sudden leap aside.

    The horse made a bolt.

11. A sudden flight, as to escape creditors.
    • (Can we date this quote?) Compton Reade

      This gentleman was so hopelessly involved that he contemplated a bolt to America — or anywhere.

12. (US, politics) A refusal to support a nomination made by the party with which one has been connected; a breaking away from one's party.
13. An iron to fasten the legs of a prisoner; a shackle; a fetter.
    • 1594, Christopher Marlowe, Edward II, London: William Jones,

      He shall to prison, and there die in boults.

    • c. 1604, William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure, Act V, Scene 1,

      Away with him to prison! Lay bolts enough upon him:

14. A burst of speed or efficiency.
    • 17 June 2018, Barney Ronay, The Guardian, Mexico’s Hirving Lozano stuns world champions Germany for brilliant win:

      In the event they lacked a proper midfield bolt, with Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira huffing around in pursuit of the whizzing green machine. The centre-backs looked flustered, left to deal with three on two as Mexico broke. Löw’s 4-2-3-1 seemed antiquated and creaky, with the old World Cup shark Thomas Müller flat-footed in a wide position.

• arrow
• dart
• nut
• screw

bolt (third-person singular simple present bolts, present participle bolting, simple past and past participle bolted)

1. To connect or assemble pieces using a bolt.

   Bolt the vice to the bench.

2. To secure a door by locking or barring it.

   Bolt the door.

   • 1851, Herman Melville, Moby Dick, chapter 24

     If that double-bolted land, Japan, is ever to become hospitable, it is the whale-ship alone to whom the credit will be due; for already she is on the threshold.

3. (intransitive) To flee, to depart, to accelerate suddenly.

   Seeing the snake, the horse bolted.

   The actor forgot his line and bolted from the stage.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Drayton

     This Puck seems but a dreaming dolt, […] / And oft out of a bush doth bolt.

4. (transitive) To cause to start or spring forth; to dislodge (an animal being hunted).

   to bolt a rabbit

5. To strike or fall suddenly like a bolt.
   • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

     His cloudless thunder bolted on their heads.

6. (intransitive) To escape.
7. (intransitive, botany) Of a plant, to grow quickly; to go to seed.

   Lettuce and spinach will bolt as the weather warms up.

   • 1995, Anne Raver, “Gandhi Gardening”, in Deep in the Green: An Exploration of Country Pleasures, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN:

     To be honest, this hasn't been my Garden of Eden year. […] The lettuce turned bitter and bolted. The Green Comet broccoli was good, but my coveted Romanescos never headed up.

8. To swallow food without chewing it.
   • 1859, Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species, ch 11, p 362:

     Some hawks and owls bolt their prey whole, and after an interval of from twelve to twenty hours disgorge pellets.

9. To drink one's drink very quickly; to down a drink.

   Come on, everyone, bolt your drinks; I want to go to the next pub!

10. (US, politics) To refuse to support a nomination made by a party or caucus with which one has been connected; to break away from a party.
11. To utter precipitately; to blurt or throw out.
    • (Can we date this quote?) John Milton

      I hate when Vice can bolt her arguments.

bolt (not comparable)

1. Suddenly; straight; unbendingly.

   The soldiers stood bolt upright for inspection.

   • (Can we date this quote?) Thackeray

     [He] came bolt up against the heavy dragoon.

From Middle English bulten, from Anglo-Norman buleter, cognate with Middle High German biuteln (“to sift”)

bolt (third-person singular simple present bolts, present participle bolting, simple past and past participle bolted)

1. To sift, especially through a cloth.
2. To sift the bran and germ from wheat flour.

   Graham flour is unbolted flour.

3. To separate, assort, refine, or purify by other means.
   • (Can we date this quote?) William Shakespeare

     ill schooled in bolted language

   • (Can we date this quote?) L'Estrange

     Time and nature will bolt out the truth of things.

4. (law) To discuss or argue privately, and for practice, as cases at law.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Jacob to this entry?)

• unbolted

bolt (plural bolts)

1. A sieve, especially a long fine sieve used in milling for bolting flour and meal; a bolter.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Ben Jonson to this entry?)

• blot, blót

Borrowed from Italian volta (“vault”).

• IPA^(key): [ˈbolt]

bolt (plural boltok)

1. shop

   Synonyms: áruház, üzlet

2. vault

• bolti
• boltos
• boltozat

From Low German bolt

bolt m (definite singular bolten, indefinite plural bolter, definite plural boltene)

1. a bolt (threaded)

• skrue (screw or bolt)

• “bolt” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

From Low German bolt

bolt m (definite singular bolten, indefinite plural boltar, definite plural boltane)

1. a bolt (threaded)

• skrue (screw or bolt)

• “bolt” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

From Proto-Germanic *bultaz, perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *bʰeld- (“to knock, strike”). Compare Lithuanian beldu (“I knock”), baldas (“pole for striking”).[1] Akin to Dutch and West Frisian bout, German Bolz or Bolzen, Danish bolt, Icelandic bolti.

• IPA^(key): /bolt/, [boɫt]

bolt m

1. bolt